MILLICENT HUNGWE
Providence Matyei (30), a resident of Bikita, lost his life in an accident involving an elephant along Hwange-Victoria Falls Road recently.
The fatal accident which claimed the Bikita resident had five others being injured on April 23 when a vehicle they were travelling in collided with an elephant on Kazungula Road, 40km from Victoria Falls.
According to former Masvingo City Mayor Advocate Collen Maboke who is Matyei’s uncle, the team was returning home from work at the Kazungula Border Post at around 7pm when the accident happened.
The driver overtook a stationary car with hazard lights, which was signaling the presence of the elephant, but failed to notice the animal, resulting in the collision.
Matyei, who was a passenger in the front seat died on the spot while five others were injured.
He was laid to rest in village Runyare under Chief Marozva, Bikita on April 27.
An observer who spoke on condition of anonymity put the blame squarely on the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority for not fencing off such areas to reduce wildlife human conflict.
In response the Zimparks Spokesperson Tinashe Farawo noted, “National parks are not fenced. Is it possible to fence the whole area from Hwange to Victoria Falls, a 102km stretch?”
He added that, investigations revealed that the driver was speeding and failed to notice warnings from a car they overtook, contributing to the accident.
Farawo emphasized, “Drivers must exercise caution around national parks, as animals must live naturally.”
Human wildlife conflict is a big problem in the country especially in villages near national parks as animals roam around with a recent incident in Mutare where a lion was put down by ZimParks after being spotted in the community.
